Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-08

| uOlen places simultaneously, rs ne
pulled. and hauled. and shouted, in the
ensuing operation Of rrc;ing, while
Polly "wrapped rs TO her slim form
in orr Of feminine storm-coat of
waterproof cloth, which buttomcd
tightly about her. and an oil-skin hat
fastened under her plump chin, stood
holding the wheel. in obedience to her
fathers chccry commands.
All that took place was to Tad's be-
wildcred mind a terrible complicated
experience lie knew that while the
Mary j." was pitching and tossing
and rolling in all sorts Of ways, the
sails were lowered part way down the
mast, where they hung banging and
Stating in a most eNaspcrating man
ncr. And he was dimly conscious Of
seeing Eph's long legs asiridc the
boom-end, waving hither aud thithcr.
as he tuggcd at a rope. while Captain
Flagg and George Washington per-
formed the most unhcarl-of prodigics
of scaBanship, as despite the strug-
Cling and bcllling Of the stiff canvas.
they contrived TO tie 1t down to the
| boom, so that when the sails were
hoistcd up again. they were not nearly
rs large rs before.
And then waxing bold, the gallant
old sea-dog. Captain Jcihro Flagg. de-
cided that, instead Of lying to till
morning. he would--to use his own
nautical expression" keep her a-jog-
ging to the nor'ard and BASTARD"
So all through that eventful night
the Mary j." pursued her billowy
course, while poor Tad, in sadly de-
moralizcd state Of mind and body, lay
nestcd in the coil Of rope have mem
toned. feeling. even in his dcathly
| sickness. oh. so ashamcdl that Polly,
| girl, not quite rs old rs himself should
show such courage, while he, lub6er-
| ly boy, couldn't even offer TO DO the
least thing to keep the vessel from GO
ing straight to the bottom Of the sea!
But !, myself. don't think there was
any thing very strange IN the natter.
IL was Tad's first experience, and sea-
sickness, Ike conscience, makes cow
ards Of us all. The Atlantic Ocean is
n terrible fellow 10 take the courage
ont Of a landsman. when II gets on II
sort Of raE,pagc; and don't wonder
that aesthetic Mr. Oscar wilde. with
his fastidious tastes, should shudder-
ingly declare that he was disappointed
with it. But believe that. in spite Of
this severe criticism. the Atlantic goes
right on roaring and dashing. and
swallowing up ships, and making peo-
pie sea-sick, just as it has been doing
for ever 50 long.
Tad couldn't be persuaded 20 go be-
low. He thought that when the vessel
did come to 90 down. he would perhaps
stand better chance on dcck-though.
il is true. he couldn't swim a stroke.
And as he lay there all night long till
sunrise, his sickness began to abatc
little, as did also the stiff westerly
breeze which, coming further from the
south, gave the MARY j." perfectly
fair wind for her home-bound passage.
They were all so kind, when. quite
dizzy and weak. Tad managed to stag
ger to his feet, like fy thawed out BY
the warm rays Of the morning sun.
which dried up the wet deck, and made
the waves Of the great blue sea all
about them sparkle with gladness.
George Washington got him some hot
coffee, and said ic was glad 10 see
him "condolescont." Captain Tlagg,
who looked quite fresh and hearty in
spite of having been mp all night,
smiled broadly, telling Tad that he'd
got over the worst Of il, and would be-
gin to get his sea-legs on in "a jifly.
Eph grinned AT him over the top Of the
wheel, and profIered the Use Of his
jack-knife, IL he (Tad) wanted 10 whit
tie. Polly glanced a. him dcmurely,
and Bounce Tapped the ends Of Tad's
extended iiugers On the whole. Tad
didn't fees nearly rs badly regarding
his humiliation IA he had expected
To; but nl his bright vision,
of the pleasures Of scafaring life
had been swallowed up in the darkness
aud terror Of the night before. He was
not intended by nature for q sailor, and
now Tad's greatest desire was 10 set his
foot on dry land again. know that, in
contrast with the average boz Of juye-
nile fiction, this sounds tremendously
unheroic, but can't help IL; there are
"born sailors and born landsmcn, and
Tad was one Of the latter Oge must
take people and things as he finds them
in real life. Yet, rs Tad began 10 feel !
better. there was much TO wonder ut
and admire all about him. Far away |
on the port hand was the distant coast |
line, dotted here and there by the white |
shaft Of a lighthouse. TO starboard, |
the ocean rolled on and on. TN rs |
waters washed the very rim Of the
great arching dome Of blue which came
down TO meet IT, On every side were
the sails Of passing vessels. and beauc-
ful beyond compare was the sight Of 2
handsome ship, with all drawing sail
set, standing in for Boston Light, head
ing almost directly for the schooner.
On she came, with her yards braccd
sharp against the back-siays, throwing
the sparkling foam from, the cutwater
In great swaths. that swept along her 1
CLASSY sides and formed = creamy track |
astern. As the stranger Wa passing |
so near, Captain Flagg hailed her
through an immense speaking trumpet.
"What ships that, ard where frDmf
"Ship 'Sooloo, hundred and thirty |
days from Calcutta-what vessels |
thatP" beloved back the Captain, who
was standing by the weather mizzen
rigging, with his hand on a backstay.
SCHOONER Mary j. Of Bixport;
twenty-four hours out er Boston.
bawled Captain Flagg. with a gracious
wave of the hand. and Tad ,yho had |